moth

noun

ˈmȯth 

plural moths ˈmȯt͟hz  ˈmȯths 

1

: clothes moth

2

: any of various usually nocturnal lepidopteran insects with antennae that are often feathery, with a stouter body, duller coloring, and proportionately smaller wings than the butterflies, and with larvae that are plant-eating caterpillars

mothlike

ˈmȯth-ˌlīk 

adjective

mothy

ˈmȯ-thē 

adjective

Examples of moth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One of my most vivid memories is of him trying to catch an invasive moth in Ithaca, [N.Y.], in the middle of winter. —Amy Brady, Scientific American, 22 Oct. 2024

The Netherlands and Belgium are testing for several crops a tiny drone that, using infrared light, can detect moths and chop them in half in mid-air. —Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, 14 Oct. 2024

From the infamous moth that took down Harvard’s Mark II in 1947 to today’s disruptions, like the widespread outage this summer that impacted everything from airlines to hotels and banks to hospitals, bugs have always posed a risk in computing. —Dan Rogers, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024

Look for signs such as stains, water damage, moth holes, and droppings. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English mothe, from Old English moththe; akin to Middle High German motte moth

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing moth

• brown-tail moth
• cecropia moth
• cinnabar moth
• clearwing moth
• clothes moth
• codling moth
• death's-head hawk moth
• diamondback moth
• hawk moth
• imperial moth
• Io moth
• luna moth
• Mediterranean flour moth
• moth bean
• moth-eaten
• oriental fruit moth
• peppered moth
• silk moth
• sphinx moth
• spongy moth
• tiger moth
• tussock moth
• wax moth

Kids Definition

moth

noun

ˈmȯth 

plural moths ˈmȯt͟hz  ˈmȯths 

: any of a group of night-flying insects that are lepidopterans often with duller coloring, stouter bodies, and smaller wings than the related butterflies and with antennae which are often feathery